Letters for Friday, January 5, 2007

• Airport security an issue

• Time to own up

• Westside wants bike path too

• Voice of reason

• Kaua‘i High flying high

• Peace, please!

Airport security an issue

Upon reading the report of a fugitive from Tennessee (“Kapa‘a fugitive considered armed and dangerous,” Jan. 4), it makes me really wonder.

Exactly how secure are our airports here in Hawai‘i if within our United States, fugitives can travel freely without being stopped at airports? Not just our airports here in Hawai‘i, but what about the ones on the Mainland?

It seems to me that this fugitive had to make at least one stopover, right? If it’s that easy for a United States fugitive, what about a foreign fugitive?

Lihu‘e

Time to own up

This is horrendous (“Despite vandalism, homeowners have hope,” Jan. 4). While no person was physically harmed, it is ridiculous that anyone would think to do such a thing. Building homes for the needy on Kaua‘i … everyone needs a hom

Everyone (even the often ignorant wealthy) knows there are many in need of housing. If this was done as a joke it’s not funny. It’s nothing to be proud of. It’s something that someone who has no self-respect for themselves or family would do.

Hundreds of Kaua‘i residents — children, teens, adults, even the elderly — spend their extra time helping others. Whoever did this is the lowest of low. Completely pathetic. Literally a loser.

They should come forward and apologize and help fix the damage they caused. Not everyone has the same belief system. But what we choose to call it — karma, Murphy’s Law, quantum physics, God — what energy you give off shall return to you threefold.

And believe me, it will when you least expect it.

Please, whether you were a man/boy or woman/girl, stand up for your character and make your own family proud. Test your inner strength and maturity. Come on, I dare you. You can admit, repent and even better, help to fix this idiotic thing you did!

Kapa‘a

Westside wants bike path too

I’d like to add my sentiment concerning my support for having a bike path on the Westside of Kaua‘i.

I moved back home to the Garden Island in the Spring of 2002, after attending schools and living on the Mainland after graduation from Waimea High School in 1958. Bicycle-riding has always been my favorite recreation — going back to my growing up years in Mana!

Awhile back I noticed that they were widening the shoulder portion of the highway (beach side) from Davidson’s Beach all the way to first ditch towards Mana — about 2 miles, and I was told that it was to be a “bike path.”

I was thrilled and I am enjoying my daily bicycle ride on such a beautiful, scenic route. The question is: Is it really a “bike path?”

There are no signs indicating that it is, and cars are often parked on the beach side along the highway. Perhaps putting up signs that it is indeed a bike path will alert drivers of this fact and make it a safer place to ride a bicycle.

If there is a bike path on the Eastside, why not also on the Westside?

Kekaha

Voice of reason

The recent Garden Island article regarding our councilpersons and their response to the perceived permitting problems with respect to some of the pavilions along the bicycle path caught my interest (“Costa and Iseri-Carvalho go at it over pavilions,” Jan. 4).

If I understand The Garden Island story, the crux of the problem seems to be whether the proper permits were received from the county for a county public works project that includes a 16-mile bike path and a number of rest pavilions.

According to the article, one of councilwoman Iseri-Carvalho’s solutions to the perceived permitting problem is to go to court to fashion a remedy. Am I the only one to see how absurd Ms. Iseri-Carvalho’s proposed solution is? Iseri-Carvalho appears to want the county to use county tax dollars to sue the county over permits the county should have gotten from another county department. It is almost as though this councilperson inhabits a parallel universe in which the only requirement for membership is a complete lack of common sense. However, a more likely explanation is that Iseri-Carvalho’s problem with the pavilions probably has more to do with politics, county in-fighting and the interests of a few oceanfront landowners.

I realize that some of the County Council prefers to consistently use the judicial system to thwart the will of the majority of taxpayers, but enough is enough. No more tax dollars should be wasted suing ourselves to massage the egos of a few politicians.

Councilman Furfaro is the voice of reason in suggesting the county planning commission review the permits for the structures and if there were some errors in the permitting process, to establish procedures so it does not happen again.

Look, the pavilions and bike path are a public works project sponsored by the county for our benefit. It is not uncommon that these types of public works projects drag on over a period of years between conception and completion. The improvements have been substantially completed and will be used by the Kaua‘i residents/taxpayers for access to the ocean. The County Council should stop this absurd in-fighting and instead spend their time representing the interests of the majority of the taxpayers.

Princeville

Kaua‘i High flying high

I have been a substitute teacher at Kaua‘i High School for the past four years and my personal impression of the faculty, office staff, students and general ambiance of the campus remains the same.

It is noteworthy, in my opinion, that we must look at the positive image of an institution and I will say that I am impressed constantly by the majority of the students whose behavior and respect are admirable. Also, the teachers leave detailed lesson plans so that substituting in the classroom is a pleasant experience. The helpfulness and friendliness of the office personnel certainly adds to the satisfaction of being at Kaua‘i High School. Added assets are the cleanliness of the classrooms and the grooming of the grounds of the school.

After recently attending a concert presented by the chorale group, I know that my impression of Kaua‘i High is credible! I wish the chorale and their able director, Mr. Conrad, a memorable and rewarding experience when they perform in New York City in the year 2008! Their hard work and goal of perfection have certainly earned them this very special acknowledgment.

Lihu‘e